The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-06-23
GRETA.

GREIA.
EYES," said Mrs. Parkhurst, pluck
ing diligently away at the pair of
ducks which Greta, the .'help"-no-
body talked about servants at Cassells 8
Creek-had just decapitated and
brought in. "We've ali been kept
busy since the wreck. Ehe Haven't
heard of tie wreck? La me! Why,
everybody at Casselrs Greek is talking
about it. 1t was a Western train,
don't you see, with two emigrant cars,
and when the trestle-work at Big
Brook gave way, there was a general
smash-up! Nobody killed, but lots O.
people hurt. We kept two German
women here for a week. One of 'em
had a sprained wrist, and the other had
a confused head-oh, confused, of
course; you're right, Greta, but who is
much alike? 1t was lucky Greta was
here, or l couldn't have understood
the poor things, nor they me. Here,
Greta, you'd better fix the stuffing. 1t
has nicer flavor, somehow, when you
mix in the onions and sage. And the
ground was strewn for a hundred feet
around, with the splintered bits of
cars, and broken trunks and boxes,
and the greatest lots of feather-beds
and blankets, that the poor wretches
were carrying West. Parson Post
took up collection in church to help
'em out with their fare, and to buy the
necessaries that they had lost. 1 was
glad O that"
So Mrs. Parkhurst chatted on with a
steady, even ripple of voice, like the
current of some mountain stream,
while Mr.. Stanley listened, sometimes
hearing what she said, and sometimes
not.
The truth was, he was watching
Greta, the tall slight hand-maiden,
with the coil of blonde hair, twisted
like glittering rope about her head,
and the big blue eyes, so full of limpid
light.
How strange were the inequalities OF
this world!
Mrs. Parkhurst, his aunt, shapeless,
and rubicund, looked like a dairy
woman.
Greta, the hired maid-servant, had
the nien and bearing of IA princess.
Her voice was low and exquisitely
modulated, her pronunciation was
perfect.
Herbert Stanley had come down to
Cassells Greek to see about the title
deeds of neighboring farm, in which
one of his clients was interested.
He had anticipated dull time while
the papers were being made out, for he
knew of old how Aunt Parkhurst
would prose and Uncle Parkhurst
preach; and now that his pretty Cousin
Nell was married and gone to Califor.
mia, the sojourn would be simply un.
bearable.
But here was Greta Harmon, per
feet symphony in blue and gold! Was
he artist enough to paint her, with his
kit of water-colors? Could he find
fitting words to describe her, in the
novelette, he was writing for the Week
ly Biceps?
One wanted model, now and then
and Greta was different from AM
woman he had ever seen before
Housework became an idyll when per
formed with such slow stately grace
domestic service was elevated when +;
girl like Greta Harmon stepped int
| its ranks.
His first nj ght at the farm was rest
less and disturbed.
what was that roaring sound
heard soon after midnight" he asked
his aunt the next morning. lit dis
turbed me so l could not Sleep"
"Roarin' sound? Amt it the falls?
said Mrs. Parkhurst, measuring out tn
| thick rich cream for the coffee with NJ
stingy hand.
mo; heard the falls, too; but tina
| is soothing sound rather than other
wise"
"Guess likely they've put the mill
hands on night work, suggested Uncl
| Parkhurst. Them new steam-engine
is the dickens and all to make a clat
ter"
Might work-at this time O. yeal
Are you crazy, Parkhurst?" demanded
his wife.
But Greta looked up suddenly, wit
such quick, intelligent light in he
eyes, that Stanley spoke at once.
| "Ah," said he, Il see that you cal
unravel the mystery, Miss Greta."
| Greta colored to the very roots G
the golden hair.
ZIP" she said ..It must have beel
the trees"
And she jumped up from her seat
sat down to the table with the rest Q
the family-and went to the door t
drive the flock of young turkeys ou
of the high wet grass into the sunni
pasture-field beyond.
What very handsome girl tina
is~ said Stanley.
.Ain't she, thought" said Mrs. Park
hurst, with as much pride as if Gret
belonged to her. ..And you ain
the only one that thinks so, neither
She might have married well twic
since she came to me. Squire Sci
voss's son was fairly bewitched abou
her, and Mr.. Larrabee, the foreman i
the new mill, courted her steady fo
six weeks. But she wouldn't hav
nothing to say to either of them"
John Servoss is a stupid lout!
sharply spoke up Stanley. "And a
for YOUR mill-workman-"
John Larrabee's forehanded sol
of man." nodded Mrs. Parkhurs
land he owns ninety acres of goo
land, with a house that's only just me-
painted"
Pretty Greta did not return to th
breakfast-table, and Stanley strolle
out to the woods, when he had tinishe
his last cup of coffee, with his portfol
under his arm.
Il may as well be doing chapte
or two for the Biceps, while that oil
idiot of a town-clerk is making out tt
title Deeds" unused he. land there
] no getting q chance to write OF